Mauser - I always wait 1/2 hour at the very least before looking for a deer. If it drops within sight, I still wait - unless it appears to be suffering, in which case I take a finishing shot. If it goes out of sight, I like to wait at least an hour before looking. It may not always be necessary, but I always follow these self-imposed guidelines to avoid losing an animal.

You did make a mistake by not having your gun zeroed, but you learned from it and I bet it won' t happen again. I' m glad you went back and gave the extra effort to find her. It' s unfortunate you weren' t able to recover the deer, but perhaps she is still alive. One thing is for sure, this experience will make you a better hunter.